Lace holder and guide for sewing machines



Aug. 28,1923.

R.M.SHARAF LACE HOLDER AND GUIDE FOR SEWING MACHINES Original Filed March 6, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTOHNEY R. M. SHARAF LACE HOLDER AND GUIDE FOR SEWING MACHINES Original Filed March a, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTUI? I ATTORNEY 'lPatented Aug. 23, 1923.

UNETED stares attain rarest RALPH M. SHARAF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO B. M. SHARAF MACHINE 00., 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

LACE HOLDER AND GUIDE FOR SEWING MACHINES.

Application filed March 6, 1918, Serial No. 220,760. Renewed December 20, 1922. Serial No. 499,353.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH M. SHARAF, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the borough and county of the Bronx, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lace Holders and Guides for Sewing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to sewing machines in which a lace, tape, or other auxiliary material is stitched to the cloth or other main material. The novel features resid in the means for holding the auxiliary material and guiding it to the stitching point. while the stitching mechanism proper and the means for feeding the auxiliary material may be of any approved construction. and therefore have not been illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a partial front elevation of a sewing machine fitted with a preferred embodiment of my lace-holder and guide; Figure 2 is a corresponding side elevation; Figure 3 is a face view of the lace guide proper; Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of said lace guide. taken on line 4i4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a cross section on line 55 of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a detail sectional view of the holder proper or reel, in the contracted or closed position, whereas Figures -1 and 2 show this reel expanded or open;

and Figure? is a detail section, substantially on line 7-7 of Figure 6.

The usual overhanging arm of the sewing machine is indicated at M, the needle bar at N, the presser foot at U, and the lace feeder at P; these parts may be constructed as shown in my pending application, Serial No. 159.059, filed April 2, 1917, or any other approved construction maybe employed for stitching and feeding the material. Q designates a trimmer knife operated from the lace feeder bar P.

To the top of the arm M is secured by screws or otherwise, an L-shaped arm or carrying bracket A, which may be provided with a perforated thread guide A, and is formed, at the forward end of its horizontal member, with a horizontal sleeve A", the

axis of which runs lengthwise of the arm M- and transversely to said horizontal member of the bracket A. In this sleeve is adapted to slide and to turn the longer end member of an adjustable carrier B, formed of a rod bent to substantially U-shape, the other end member B of this carrier being shorter than the one fitted into the sleeve A, but of course I do not wish to restrict myself to this particular construction. It will be understood that the carrier may be adjusted lengthwise in the sleeve A", in a horizontal direction parallel to the arm M, and therefore transverse to the direction in which the main fabric is fed during the stitching operation, the line of feed being indicated by the horizontal arrow in Figure 2. By turning the carrier B in the sleeve A", the plane of the U-shaped carrier may be brought to a vertical, horizontal, or inclined position, as desired, thus adjusting the free end member B of said carrier forwardly or rearwardly, and at the same time to different levels. When the desired adjustment has been made, the carrier B is locked in position, say by means'of a set screw B".

On thefree end member. of the carrier B, a lace guide C is adjustable, both lengthwise and p-ivotally (that is to say, in the same manner in which the carrier B is adjustable relatively to the sleeve A), said guide havtit) ing a sleeve portion C to fit said member of the carrier, to which, after adjustment, it is locked by suitable means, such as a set screw 0. To the guide which has forwardly-ere tending flanges c at each side, a top plate or cover D extending between said flanges is pivoted about a transverse axis or pin D parallel to the sleeve C. lhis pin may be secured rigidly to lugs c on the flanges c, the cover D having corresponding lugs D fitted to turn on said pin.. The upper end of the cover D is preferably located above the pivot axis D, as shown best in Figures 3 and 4, and is connected with the upper end of a spring leaf or blade E interposed between the plate D and the bottom of the guide C, and having its side edges adjacent to, and on the inside of, the flanges 0'. The connection between the upper edges of the cover'D and of the elastic blade E may be made, for instance, by folding the edge of the cover inward and downward to embrace and clamp the upper edge of the spring, as shown in Figure 4. The lower end of the spring tends to bear against the adjacent part of the guide body C, and when lace or other auxiliary material passes lengthwise between such body and the spring, in the di rection indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, the spring will press the material against the spring E may be adjusted in one or both of two ways: First, by means of a screw d threaded into a cross bar or bridge C which extends over the cover D, from one flange e to the other, the point of said screw bearing against the cover 1); a spring a3 is preferably coiled around the screw d,

above the bridge C, to revent accidental turning of the screw. econd, there is a block F interposed between .the cover D and the spring E, and slidable' lengthwise, that is to say, toward and from the pivot D, said slide block being guided partly by the flanges 0', and partly by means of a headed screw or pin F movable in alongitudinal slot F of the cover D, the ends of the slot forming stops for the pin F, thus determining two normal positions of the slide block. A quick adjustment of the tension of the spring E, to one or the other of two normal tensions, is obtained by sliding the block lengthwise to one extreme position or the other, while the screw (1 provides means for a relative slow but more accurate adjust- "ment of the spring tension.

The guide C will be adjusted so that its lower end will be in the proper position relatively to the main fabric, and in the particular construction indicated, the lace R will be delivered by the guide to the upper face of the presser foot 0, being fed over and through the presser foot by means of the lace feeder P, to thus reach the upper face of the main fabric 5 to which the lace is to be sewed. However, it will be understood that the lace maybe fed in any other suitable manner.

The lace or other auxiliary material is supplied to the guide C from the holder or reel carried li y the vertical member of the bracket A. his heel comprises a horizontal axle G parallel to the axes of the sleeves A" and C and tapered at one end, G, to fit tightly into a correspondingly-tapered opening or socket at the upper ortion of the bracket A, so that the axle Wlll be held from turning and will practically be rigid with the bracket A. On this axle is mounted to revolve a sleeve H provided at the end distant from the supporting bracket A,

with a head H to which are pivoted about transverse axes, longitudinal arms J, the central portions of which have pivot connections at J'with other arms J pivoted to a sleeve K which is slidable lengthwise on the sleeve H and may be locked thereto, as by a set screw K. The outer ends of the arms J have pin-and-slot connections at L,

with lace-carrying bars L, which are also connected ivotally with the outer ends of the arms Each of the armed forms a resa es pair with an arm J "crossing it in X fashion when the reel is expanded, and the five pivot connections of the same pair of arms are parallel. Preferably the arms J" are straight and the arms J bent attheir central portions, as shown best in Figure 7, whereby the reel may be folded more readily into a compact shape. At the ends nearest to the head H, the carrier bars L are bent inwardly as at L", and attheir other ends said bars have outwardly extending stop lugs Z. This special construction. is for the purpose of facilitatingthe transfer of the lace or like-material from the card on which it is wound (such lace being customarily sold in thisconditionl tothereel. In-transferring the lace the reel will generally be contracted as in Fig "6 the cardwith the lace thereon will be place next totthe convergingends L", and the lace will be slipped or stripped from the card on to the reel, the lugs Z acting as stops forthe edge of the lace so as to'prevent its'being pushed too far and oil the reel. Thereupon the reel is opened to the desired extent and the screw K is tightened. In order that the reel may not turn too freely, and to keep the lace reasonably taut between the reel and the guideC, have shown a tension or friction spring T coiled around that portion of the axle rod G which Ifrojectsbeyond the free end of the sleeve one end of .said'sfiring bearing against said end of the sleeve and the other against a head or collar G" at the free end of; the axle. Gr, thus preming the sleeve H toward the supporting bracket A and causingsufiicientpressure at both ends of said sleeve, andparticul'arly where it engages said support, to check the rotation of the reel andprevent slacl'mcss ofthe lace.

When not in use, the reel maybe folded intoa very compact shape and removed from the support A. and the guide C may be removed from its carrier B, and the latter from The construction explained above enables the lace or other auxiliary material It to be placed readily on the reel and to be directed therefrom to the guide G and to the main fabric S, in proper position relatively to the presser foot and other parts of the sewing machine. The adjustment of the guide C len thwise of the arm M enables it t into registry with the .presser to be brou foot or at er part to which the lace passes from the guide, while the swinging of the guide on the carrier B, or of the carrier on the support A, enables the guide C not only to be raised or lowered, but to be given different positions or inclinations, as may be most convenient for the proper travel of the lace. The reel is adapted to receive lace of different widths, and as the guide C is readily removed from the carrier B, it is easy to substitute a wider or a narrower guide to fit the particular width of lace employed.

As the reel keeps the portion of the lace thereon in practically circular shape (instead of fiat as it was on the card), it follows that the lace portion between the reel and the guide C will constantly remain straight and practically in the same direction or plane as the reel revolves to pay out lace.

While I have shown and described a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that changes may be made therein within the spirit and scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

I desire it to be understood that the term lace as used in the claims is not to be interpreted in any restrictive sense, but as including any auxiliary material.

I claim:

1. In a sewing machine, a support, a U- shaped carrier one end member of which is slidable relatively to said support lengthwise and also mounted to turn about its own axis, and a lace guide mounted to slide and to turn on the other end member of said carrier. V

2. In a sewing machine, a support, a carrier mounted to slide and to turn relatively to said support, and a lace guide adjustably mounted on said carrier, to turn about an axis parallel and eccentric to the one about which the carrier turns,

- -3. In a sewing machine, a support, a carrier mounted to turn relatively to said support, and a lace guide adjustaby mounted on said carrier, to slide in a direction parallel' to the axis about which the carrier turns, and to turn about an axis parallel and eccentric to the first-named axis.

4. In a sewing machine, a support, a carrier mounted to turn relatively to said support, and a lace guide adjustably mounted on said carrier, to turn about an axis parallel and eccentric to the one about which the carrier turns.

5. In a sewing machine, a support, a carrier mounted to turn relatively to said support, and a lace guide adjustably mounted on said carrier to slide on a portion of the carrier at a; distance from the axis about which it turns, in a direction parallel to said axis.

6. In a sewing machine, a lace guide and a horizontally disposed reel for supplying lace to said guide, said reel being of circular cross section, and disposed so that the direction of the lace path from the reel to the guide will extend in a straight line from a point above the horizontal middle portion of the reel.

7. In a sewing machine, a lace guide, and

arranged to receive lace from said reel and I connected to the carrier and adjustabe in a direction parallel to the reel axis.

9. In a sewing machine an adjustable carrier, a lace reel, connected to the carrier and a guide arranged toreceive lace from said reel and connected to the carrier and mounted to swing about an axis parallel to' that of the reel 10. In a sewing machine an adjustable carrier, a lace reel, connected to the carrier and a guide arranged to receive lace from said reel and connected to the carrier and to swing thereon about an axis parallel to that of the reel, and also a-djustablelengthwise of said carrier.

11. In a sewing machine, a lace guide provided with. a top plate mounted to swing about an axis transverse to the path of the lace, a tension spring interposed be- I tween said top plate and the guide proper, and means for pressing the top plate toward the guide proper.

12. In a sewing machine, a lace guide provided with a top plate, a tension leaf spring interposed between said top plate and the guide proper, and a slide interposed between the top plate. and the leaf spring and movable lengthwise of said spring to vary its tension.

13. In a sewing machine, a lace guide provided with a top plate, an elastic tension-exerting member interposed between said plate and the guide proper, and connected with said plate at one end, and a tension-adjusting slide movable between the top plate and the spring, toward and from their connected ends.

14. In a sewing machine, a lace guide provided with a top plate pivoted to swing about an .axis transverse to the path of the lace, an elastic tension-exerting member interposed between said plate and the guide to said support, and a lace guide adjustably mounted on said carrier. I

16. In a sewing machine, a support, a carrier mounted to slide and turn on said support, and a lace guide horizontally and ver- 'tically adjustably supported on said carrier.

17. In a sewing machine, asupport, a horizontally arranged reel, a carrier mounted to slide and to turn relative to said support, and a lace guide adjustably supported on said carrier. I

18. In a sewing machine, -a support, a reel longitudinally disposed and carried by the support, a carrier mounted to slide and turn relative to said support, and a lace guide adjustably mounted on said caragaeaiee rier whereby the direction'of the lace path from the reel to the guide wiIl be in a straight line from a point above the horizontal middle portion of the reel.

19. In a sewing machine, a sup rt, a horizontally disposed reel mounted upon said support, a lace guide, and means for adjustably mounting said lace guide upon the support whereby said guide may be p0 sitioned to dispose the path of movement of the lace in astraight line from a pointabove the axis of the reel at the central portion thereof.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing 30 

